Charleston council opens push to renegotiate Saint Andrews public-service agreement, urges legal options

Charleston City Council members on Sept. 9 discussed long-running questions about annexations from the Saint Andrews Public Service District (PSD), heard detailed service and cost comparisons from city staff, and directed the city attorney to explore legal options related to the city’s financial agreement with the PSD.

The discussion grew out of councilman John Waring’s presentation on the city’s outreach to homeowners considering annexation. “Our millage rate is lower than the millage rate of the public service district,” said Molly Connor, annexation director for the City of Charleston, explaining part of the city’s outreach pitch. Council members and department heads described differences in tax rates, water and sewer costs, and capital investment planned for West Ashley.

Council members said the public often receives inconsistent information about annexation and that the city has an interest in ensuring residents have accurate facts. Council tasked the legal department to return with a strategy for the existing financial arrangement with Saint Andrews…